Corn-harvester.



EN... 709,424' Patenfedsepf. se, i902'.

. l .3. s 'mANa EDEN HARVESTER.

(Application led Aug'. 2, 1901.)

A TTORNEYS fno. 709,424. Patented sept. le, |902. J. STRAND. l

CORNi HARVESTER.

(Application led Aug. 2, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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Patented I-Sept. le, 1902..

'sT-hwg);- -f'cou HARVESTER.

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10.709,424. v Patenten sept. le, |9112.

J. STRAND.

conm HARVESTER'. (Appucg-.m mea Aug. sa, 1901.)

(Nolodel.)

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` also to so construct and group the said parts, y

and pointed out in the claims. Reference is to be had tothe accompanying UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.,

K JOHN STRAND, OF'MANKATO, KANSAS.

CORN-HARVESTER.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 709,424, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed August 2, 190l. Serial No. 70,683. (Nn model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known' that I, JOHN STRAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mankato, in the county of Jewell and State of Kansas, have inventedl a new and Improved Corn-Harvester, of which the following is a fnllfclear, and exact description. i

The purpose of this invention is to` provide an implement which when'operated ina corn` iieldwill receive the standingcorn, snap, the ears from the stalks, and cut the husks of the ears as they leave thesnapping device, and

that they can be used effectually in connection with husking devices including elevators.

A further purpose of theinvention is to con-` struct an implement of the character above described ina simple, durable, and economic manner and so that the standing corn will be automatically guided to the snapping device, and whereby the stalks of corn, should they incline toward the ground, will be lifted and conducted to the aforesaid Vsnapping devices,

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

drawings, forminga partof this specification, in which similar characters of reference indi cate corresponding parts in all the ligures.

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the improved implement. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section drawn on au enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the implement; and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the snapping device, parts being broken away, and a pei'- spective view of the husking-rollers, illustrating their position relative to the snapping device.

The main frame A is pivotally mounted upon an axle 10, which main frame consists of side bars 11 and a rear extension 12, suitably braced, and at the central portion of the rear end of the main frame A a caster-wheel 14 is located,`the shank l5 whereof extends auxiliary frame consists of side bars l1, connected at the back by a cross-bar 12, An intermediate cross-bar 13 is also employed to connect the side members of the auxiliary ,frame AQ Suitable supporting-wheels 14. are carried by the axle 10. The auxiliary iframe A' is also preferably provided with a central longitudinal beam 15, having a iiooring 16 connected therewith or formed integral with the lower side portions of the said beam; but. the said beam 15 may be omitted, `if desired.

Braces 17 are carried from the forward portion'ofy the auxiliary frame A', one brace being located at each sideof the center of the said auxiliary frame, and these braces 17 have a forward and downward inclination, as is best shown in Fig. 2. These braces serve to support -the lower end s of semicircular casings or housings 18, the opposing faces of which casings or housings are open, as isslhown in Fig. 4. rlfhe rear ends of thehousings or caslings 18 are supported by standards 19, which are also connected at'their lower ends with `the auxiliary frame A'.

The rear portions of the housings or casings 18 are closed by suitable partitions 20,

.as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and the upper rear 'portions of the housings are braced by bars 21, which extend down wardiyand rearwardly `'to an engagement with brackets 22, secured upon the rear portion of the auxiliary frame A. At the forward end of each housing or casing, said forward ends being closed, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, triangular guide-fingers 23 are located, having a forward and downward inclination, and these fingers 23 are preferably of skeleton formation, as is particularly shown in Fig. 3, and the inner faces of the fingers are carried from the inner edges of the housings or casings. The said inner faces of the fingers 23 diverge as they extend forward. These fingers are adapted to guide the cornstalks between the casings or housings, and the forward extremities of the iingers are curved laterally in opposite directions to facilitate such guidance. As will be hereinafter described, the auxiliary frame A' may be raised or lowered, so thatthese lingers may be made to receive betweenthem cornstalks which incline toward the ground as well as standing stalks.

A snapping-roller 24 is located within each casing or 'housing 18,1the trunnions ofsaid snapping-rollers being journaled in the end portions of the housings, and each snapping.- roller V24 is longitudinally corrugated or is provided with longitudinal' teeth or ribs 25, as is clearly shown inl, Fig. 3. These snapping-rollers are adapted to revolve in opposite directions. The rear trunnion of each snapping-roller 24 carries a bevel-pinion 26,

'these pinions being outside of the rear ends of the housings or casings. Bearings 27 are erected upon the upper rear portions of the housings or casings 18, asis shown in Fig. 4, and these bearings journal the ends of the shaft 28,(shown in the same figure,) which sha-ft carries two bevel-pinions 29. These bevel-pinions mesh with similar pinions 30, located at the upperV ends of short vertical shafts 3l, mounted to turn at the upper ends of the housings or casings near their inner longitudinal edges, asis alsoA shown in Fig. 4, and each short shaft 3l carries a sprocketwheel 3,2, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. i

A sprocket-Wheel 33 is secured onthe shaft 28 between the bevel-pinions 29, and an endor casings, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. drive-shaft 36 carries a sprocket-wheel 37a atV less chain beltv 34 is passed over this sprocketwheel 33 and over a sprocket-wheel 35, secured upon a drive-shaft 36, which driveshaft is journaled in bearings 37, secured to the'outer upper end portions of the-housings This each end, and these sprocket-wheels 37a are connected by chains 38'with large sprocketwheels 39, secured to the main supportingwheels 14a or uponthe axle 10.

Chain belts 40 are located over the housings or casings at their `inner longitudinal edges. These chain belts 40 may be provided with spurs and are passed over the sprocket` Wheels 32 on the upper short vertical shafts 31. .The said chain belts 40 are insections,

`diameter at their rear than at their forward ends, so that the progress of the ears of corn up the said rollers will be more or less retarded. VAs stated, the snapping-rollers revolve in opposite directions, and as a stalk of corn passes up through the space between these rollers the stems of the ears will be notched and snapped olf by the ,action of the rollers 24 in revolving in a manner to be hereinafter described, since corresponding teeth 25 of the snapping-rollers will simultaneously be brought upward in the revolution of these rollers andwill engage with-the stem of the cob, snapping it from the stalk.

The snapping-rollers 24 are revolved by causing bevel-gears 43, located on the drive- Vshaft 36, to engage with the gears 26 on the upper trunnions of said snapping-rollers,as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

When an ear of corn is snapped from the stalk, it will fall on the snapping-rollers and will be carried eitherto the right or left hand side of the machine within the casing or housing 18, and ,each casing orhousing 18 at its bottom portion is provided with a trough 44. (Shown best in Fig. 3.) In eachtrough 44` an endless chain o r conveyer 45 is mounted to travel longitudinally of the housing or casing,the chain belts being provided with flights l46,placed longitudinally thereof. These end- .less conveyer-chains 45 pass over sprocketwheels 47,journaled in the forward lowenportions ofthe housings or casings 18,as is shown in Fig. 2,and they likewise pass over sprocketwheels 48,secured upon shafts 49,Wl1ich shafts are journaled in bearings formed at the upper ends of arms 50,extending`from the stand-y ards 19 at the rear thereofin an upward direction, as is shown in-Figs. 1 and 2. These shafts 49 are set in motion by gears 51, se-

curedV on the 4shafts 49, meshing with gears 52, which gears-are secured upon a lower shaft 53, journaled in the upper ends of the standards 19, as is shown in Figs. 3 andv 4.

The shaft 53 is driven from the drive-shaft 36, preferably through the medium of achain belt 54, which passes over a sprocket-wheel. 55, located on the drive-shaft 36, and over a Y lsprocket-wheel 56, secured upon the driven shaft 53.

Two sets of husking-rollers Care located diagonally within the auxiliary frame, the bushing-rollers Ahaving a'downward and rearward inclination, and the forward ends of IIO these husking-rollers are Abeneath the rear ends of the con veyers v45 at each side of the snapping-rollers. lThe rear ends lof the huskying-rollers are of thegreatest diameter, so

that the ears of corn received thereon will be `somewhat retarded-in'their passage from the forward to the rear ends ofthe huskingrollers. One roller 57, preferably-the outer roller, is provided with longitudinal ribs or serrations, while the opposing or inner roller 58 of each pair of husking-rollers is plain or smooth. The trunnions of the outer huskingrollers 57 are journaled in plates 59, (shown best in Figs. 3 and 4,) which plates are suitably supported upon the auxiliary frame, while the trunnions of the inner or plain rollers 58 are journaled in blocks 60, adapted to slide in slots 6l, produced in said plates.

Springs 62 bear against the blocks 60l and the inner ends of the slots 61, which springs may.

be placed under tension or relieved from tension through the medium of set-screws 63. (Likewise shown in Fig. 4.) These springs 62 serve to keep the plain rollers of the pairs drive'the plain` rollers, and the corrugated husking-rollers 57 are driven through the medium of `bevel-gears 64, secured tto-their `upper trunnions and engaging with similar gears 65, secured to the end portions of the driven shaft 53.

`Each pair. of husking-rollers is located -within a housing or casing (56, the. housings or casings being open at both of their ends and having corresponding inclination to the inclination of the husking-rollers..

jacent to a trough 67, supported, preferably, between the rear cross-bar 12 and the intermediate cross-bar 13a of the auxiliary frame A. The ends and sides of the trough 67h1- cline downward toward the center, and at the` center or lowest point of the trough G7 an opening 68 is made.` Below these openingsa shaft 69 is journaled in suitable bearings attached to the auxiliary frame A', as is illustrated in Fig. 2, the shaft 69 extending lon` gitudinally of the auxiliary frame. This shaft 69 carries a sprocket-wheel 70 and a bevel-gear-71, thebevel-gear 7l being arranged to mesh with a like gear 72, secured upon the end of ashort shaft journaled transversely in the auxiliary frame A', and` said short shaft carries a sprocket-wheel 73, (shown `best in Fig. 2,) which sprocket-wheel 73 receives achain belt 74; This .chain belt extendsupward and forward and passes over a `sprocket-wheel 75,wliich is located on ythe. driven shaft 53'. y

Anelevator-frame 76 is mounted at its lower zend at the lower portion of the trough 67, and

this elevator-frame carries asproeket-wheel at its upper end. Anelerator-belt 77 is passed `over the uppersprocket-wheel-in the elevatorframeand over the sprocket wheel 70 on the machine and extends `beyond -said side thel `shaft G9,`sothat the ears of corn delivered intothe trough 67 by the husking-rollers are "carried up'in the elevator hy the belt 77,

which is provided with flights 78, and as the elevator-frame .inolines to one side of the cleaned ears ofcorn are delivered by the elevator into a Wagon or other receptacle at the side of -the machine and traveling with it,

" rollers Cthe knives Sl slit the husks of the Lin Fig. 2.

vided with a circular knife 8l.

In order that the husks may be quickly removed frorn the ears of corn `by the huskingrollers, downwardly and rearwardly extendends of the conveyer belts or chains 45, and

as the ears of corn snapped from the stalk drop from the conveyers 45 to the snapping- The o nte r` The rear 0r larger ends of the husking-rollers are adears, but do not injure the grain. The knifecarrying arms 79 are of spring material, and

the knives are held as near as practicable to.

the delivery ends of the conveyers 45 by springs 8:2, attached to the rear ends .of the housings for the snapping-rollers, the free ends of the springs having bearing `on the arms 79 ata point near the knife-carrying rollers` S0, as is shown in Fig. 2.

The ears of corn, with their h usks slit, drop upon the husking-rollers C, and as each set `of husking-rollers run close together, they quickly pinch lthe slit husks and strip them from the ears of corn. As the husked ears of corn travel down `the husking-rollers to the elevator any silk still adhering to the ears or any ribbons of husks still remaining on the corn will be removed by the huskingrollers, so that the ears of corn will be delivered in a clean condition to the elevator. One husking-roller being rough or corrugated and the other plain the ears of corn received by the huskingrollers will be caused to turn around as they travel along the rollers, thus facilitating the removal of any material left clinging thereto after the first husking operation has been accomplished.

The auxiliary frame A is raised and lowered through the medium of a lever 83, fulcrumed upon a standard 84, carried by the main frame A, asis shown in Fig. 1. The forward end of this lever 85:3V is adjustably attached to a link 85, pivot'ally' connected with the rear central portion of the auxiliary frame A', while the rear or handle end of the lever S3 is provided with a-thumb-latch S6,

IOO

adapted to enter any one of a series of apertures 87, produced in a standard 88, located on the main frame A, as is also shown bestin Fig. 1. The draft-tree S9 is attached to the perforated keeper-standard SS.

In the operation of this machine it `will be `said snapping-rollers and passed to the conveyers 45, andl the husks ot' cornas the ears .leave the conveyers are slitted by the knives Si. The ears of corn with their husks thus slitted are dropped upon the boeking-rollers,

which immediately act to strip the major portions of the husks from the ears, While any remaining shreds of husks or of silk are removed from the ears by the liusking--rollers as the ears travel down the said rollers. The husking-rollers deliver the cleaned or husked ears of corn to the trough 67, whereupon the elevator acts to carry up said ears of corn and deliver them to a receptacle prepared `to receive them.

I desire itto be understood` that thedrive.- chain 38 and connecting-wheels may be omitted from one side of the machine, if desired, and that the usual ratchet mechanism may be added to the drive-wheels,` which will en- `main frame, preferably in advance of the IXO IZO

able one wheel turning to go ahead, while to revolve inl opposite directions, a housing for each snapping-roller, a trough within each housing parallel with the outer sides of the snapping rollers, and -endless conveyers mounted to travel in each trough, arms sup- -ported opposite the rear end of each trough,

and disk cutters mounted to revolve on said arms, adapted to slit the husks of corn as the ears drop from the conveyer, and thus prepare the ears for ready husking, as described.

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a wheel-supported frame, snapping-rollers mounted to revolve in the frame, housings for the snapping-rollers, guide-fingers extending from the forward ends of the housings, troughs in the said housings parallel with the outer. side faces of the snapping-rollers, and endless conveyers mounted to travel in the troughs, of-arms secured opposite the outlet ends of the troughs, disk cutters carried by said arms and located in the path of the ears discharged by the conveyers, husking-rollers arranged in pairs, one pair at the rea'r of and below the outlet end of each con.veyertrough,` the husking-rollersl receiving ears for contact with the slitting-disks, a trough arranged to receive the ears of corn from the huskingrollers, and an elevator in connection with the receiving-trough, all combined for the purpose set forth.

3. In a corn-harvester, the combination,

lwith a wheel-supported main frame, .an auxlocated also within the housings or casings at the outer side portions ofthe snapping-rollers, a driving mechanism for the said conveyers, husking-rollers arranged in pairs, also mounted in the auxiliary frame and arranged to receive the ears delivered by the conveyers, a driving mechanism for the said husking-rollers, and an elevator carried also by the auxiliary frame and adapted to receive the cleaned ears from the husking-rollers, as set forth. 4. In a corn-harvester, the combination, witha wheel-supported main frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally mounted in the main frame, means for raising and lowering the rear portion of the auxiliary frame, housings or casings having a forward and downward inclination, their opposing inner longitudinal surfaces being open, guide-fingers carrried by the vforward ends of the said casings, and conveyer-chains for the stalks mounted upon the housings or casings adjacent to their inner longitudinal edges, ofsnapping-rollers, mounted in the housings or casings, means for revolving said snapping-rollers in opposite directions, each snappingroller being of greater diameter at its rear than at its forward end and provided with longitudinal peripheral teeth or ribs, conveyers located also within the housings or casings adjacent to the outer side faces of the snapping-rollers, tension-controlled knives supported over the delivery ends of the conveyers, husking-rollers arranged in pairs having a downward and rearward inclination, each pair of huskingrollers having their rear ends of greater diameter than their forward ends, one roller of each pair being plain and the other roughened, tension devices for the husking-rollers, means for driving the said husking-rollers, an elevator arranged to receive the ears of corn from the husking-rollers, and means, substantially as described, for driving said elevator, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN STRAND.

Witnesses:

J. D. HILL, 1 J. H. WooLLEN. 

